For the media

For the campus

News Service:

Annette Hacker, director, (515) 294-3720

Office: (515) 294-4777

2-11-06

Contact:

Gene Deisinger,
Iowa State University Police Division,
(515) 294-4428

Shanda Munn arrested in fatal hit-and-run

AMES, Iowa -- On Feb. 10, Iowa State University Police obtained arrest warrants
for Shanda Rae Munn, age 20, of 408 E Pitts St., Lawler, Iowa. Munn has
been charged with Homicide by Vehicle (Class B Felony) and Failing to
Stop at an Accident Resulting in the Death of Another Person
(Aggravated Misdemeanor). Munn is a junior, majoring in
pre-journalism and mass communication, from Lawler, Iowa.

Munn surrendered to ISU Police at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Feb.
11, and was then transported to the Story County Jail. Bail has been
set in the amount of $75,000.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 3, Ames and ISU Police
responded to a report of a person lying along Mortensen Road. Upon
arrival, officers observed the body of a woman who had apparently been
the victim of a hit-and-run collision.

The victim, Kelly Jean
Laughery, age 20, of 233 Gray Ave., Ames, was transported to Mary
Greeley Medical Center in Ames, where she died as a direct result of
injuries sustained from the collision. Laughery was a sophomore,
majoring in pre-business, from Orient, Iowa.

Investigation has shown that Laughery was walking eastbound along
Mortensen Road when she was struck from behind by a vehicle. There
was no evidence that the vehicle had stopped at the scene or that the
driver had rendered any aid to the victim. Neither Ames nor ISU
Police received a report from the driver indicating that an accident
had occurred. Evidence at the scene indicated that damage had been
done to the suspect vehicle, especially to the front grill and the
right front corner. At the scene, police recovered vehicle debris and
components that indicated the suspect vehicle would be a 1991-1993
Buick Century.

ISU Police received information from multiple sources that identified
the suspect (Munn) and indicated that the suspect vehicle would be
found in a residential garage in Nevada, Iowa. On Dec. 4, officers
obtained a search warrant for that location, where they found a 1992
Buick Century in the closed garage. That vehicle had sustained damage
consistent with evidence recovered from the accident scene. Officers
also observed damage that was consistent with injuries sustained by
the victim. Shanda Rae Munn was found to be a registered owner of the
suspect vehicle.

Since the incident occurred, ISU Police have executed several search
warrants and interviewed over 80 persons who had information related
to the accident or the persons involved. Evidence and witness
statements have shown that Munn attended a party prior to the
accident, had been consuming alcohol at that party, and was under the
influence of alcohol at the time that she struck and killed
Laughery.

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Quick look

Shanda Rae Munn, Lawler, has been
been charged with Homicide by Vehicle (Class B Felony) and Failing to
Stop at an Accident Resulting in the Death of Another Person
(Aggravated Misdemeanor) in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident.